Polymers near surfaces

by Erich Eisenriegler

"This book gives an introduction to the conformation properties near surfaces of long flexible polymer chains in extreme dilution. These properties are of both practical and fundamental importance. While the behavior in this fluctuation-dominated situation is independent of most microscopic details, it shows a large variety that is characterized by the different qualitative conditions in the bulk (good or theta solvent, etc.) and near the surface (desorbing or absorbing, etc.). The main focus of the book is on powerful, recent theoretical developments that have - despite the long history of the field - increased our understanding considerably during the last few years. The close relationship to surface critical phenomena is explained, making it possible to apply advanced methods of field theory. A self-contained introduction into these approaches, and their application to polymer physics, are given assuming only a basic knowledge of statistical mechanics. A detailed consideration of id